J2 Big Bang - Gone In An Instant (Or Here Til The Bitter End) Jared/Jensen NC17 6/13
Back to Interlude 2
Jensen had never gone this long without speaking to Chris and it was beginning to wear on him. He’d never been happier yet at the same time was depressed due to losing one of his best friends. Not that he’d lost Chris entirely, but it was clear that both men were going out of their way to avoid each other and Jensen had no idea how to stop it. Every time he thought about Chris and the betrayal he’d felt hearing the words that he was selfish and a bad friend Jensen got angry. He felt anger and a rage he’d never experienced before. But with each day, each first he and Jared experienced he wanted to share that joy with Chris like he had with Danni.
A few weeks had gone by since that afternoon, since Jensen’s first date with Jared and the last day he’d spoken to Chris. Danneel had texted him to say that she was meeting a few of her friends for pedicures, Steve was off doing whatever he did when he wasn’t with the rest of them and Jensen wasn’t sure where Chris was. He knew that Jared was spending time with his roommates not having spent much time with them since he’d been with Jensen for the majority of the week. Dozing on the couch, Jensen had the football game on the television when the door opened and he looked up to see Chris standing in the doorway to the living room. The mood shifted from comfortable to awkward. Jensen sat up as he watched Chris enter the living room to sit on their lazy boy chair.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for nearly twenty minutes before Chris finally spoke. “So, are we ever going to talk about this?”
Jensen scratched the back of his neck and finally met Chris’ eye. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Just about as good as you’ve been avoiding me I’d say.”
“Right.” Jensen couldn’t deny the claim but he wouldn’t be the first to break, he’d been slighted here, not Chris. “I don’t think I had much else to say on the topic. You were free to clear anything up at any time.”
“You’re always with him,” Chris accused. “It’s hard to talk to you about anything when you’re never alone.” There was a petulant note in his tone causing for Jensen’s eyes to narrow.
“On that subject,” Jensen’s back straightened and he fought to hold his tone. “When did it become okay for you to have a girlfriend, to be with her twenty four seven and expect us all to adapt but when I find someone it’s this heinous crime?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Chris raised his voice. He was clearly agitated and Jensen knew that the cease fire was a far ways away.
“Then what are you saying? Explain it to me, because I’m having a hard time following you. You’re mad because I won’t drop everything and help you out, but it’s never been a problem for you to cancel on me last minute. You are upset because I haven’t been accessible to you whenever you wanted, but it’s fine if we don’t see you for days because you’ve got your own shit going on and you have to make time for Sandy.”
“So you have a problem with Sandy?”
Jensen gave a sharp barking laugh. “No. I don’t, but what I have a problem with is you being a hypocrite. It’s okay if it’s you but fuck it if it’s us. That’s bullshit. You could have called me any time and said you wanted to talk about shit but no, you don’t. Then you blame me because I’m not moping around waiting for you to forgive me for being a shitty fucking friend.”
At Jensen’s raised voice, Chris dropped back down on the chair he’d stood up from and all of the fight went out of him. He put his head in his hands and sighed. Jensen took this moment to get everything off of his chest.
“And furthermore, I am not a bad friend. I’m not a selfish asshole Chris, and fuck you for making me feel like one. Fuck you for not understanding how hard it was for me to tell you no, knowing how angry you were with me. You know how long I’d been waiting, how much that date meant to me. And you just expected me to drop everything. You assumed I would drop everything for you.”
“You’re right,” Chris murmured softly.
“If you’d just asked…” Jensen felt tears pool in the corner of his eyes. All of the emotion he’d been bottling up for the past few weeks was surfacing and he felt his body trembling. “If you’d have just asked and given me the choice, I might have said yes. I would have seen if Jared wanted to go…but you practically told me to cancel the date. There was no choice, I was just supposed to forget my shit and do what you wanted. I’m always supposed to just do what you all want with no regard to me or what I want, and that’s what fucking sucks. Because when I do stand up for myself, when I do put my foot down I’m a selfish asshole.”
“Jensen,” Chris’ voice was rough, like he himself was trying to hold back tears. Their eyes met and they both let out deep breaths they’d been holding. “I’m sorry, I know.”
“What the fuck though?” Jensen pleaded for an explanation. “Please explain it to me because I’m really fucking lost right now.”
He watched Chris take a few calming breaths and wiped his face with his hands. It was clear that the other man was going through a rough time and Jensen’s heart went out to him. Jensen knew Chris wasn’t a malicious person, not unless he felt threatened, so what had him so threatened of Jared was a mystery to Jensen.
“You know when you’ve gone too far, but you don’t know how to stop yourself? I could hear myself talking but… I don’t know. It was just…I was so upset, so surprised that you’d said no I couldn’t hear anything else.”
“It really fucking stung,” Jensen admitted. “You’re practically my brother and…”
“I know, and it wasn’t me. I mean, it was, but at the same time I couldn’t stop myself and I knew it was wrong, hell everyone told me what an asshole I was being but I just couldn’t stop. You have to believe me, I’m so god damn sorry I can’t even tell you.”
Jensen listened as Chris relayed everything that had happened at Jared’s house both while he was out with Jared at the park and afterwards. When Jensen admitted that Jared hadn’t told him about Chris approaching him and asking him to convince Jensen to cancel, Chris seemed shocked. He had assumed that Jared would have run to Jensen and told him but Jensen assured Chris that they hadn’t spoken at all about it.
“He must hate me,” Chris exhaled as though a giant weight had been lifted off of him. Jensen understood the feeling because he was finally feeling like things would be okay between them.
“No, he doesn’t. Or if he does he hasn’t said anything to me about hating you.” Jensen stood up and went to the kitchen to grab them both a beer. Upon drowning half of it, Jensen spoke again. “Well, that’s a lie. He doesn’t understand what you have against him, but he doesn’t hate you.”
Chris raised an eyebrow, as though he didn’t believe Jensen. “I’m a big boy Jenny, you can tell me if your boyfriend doesn’t like me.”
“He was a little pissed on my behalf, spoke about respect and friendship and making my own decisions, but he doesn’t hate you. He doesn’t even know you.” Jensen held his breath; he was interested in how Chris would respond to that. He wanted nothing more than Jared and Chris to get along, to have both of these men who meant so much to him be able to coexist and actually be friends.
“Well we’ll have to fix that then won’t we?”
Jensen smiled and finished the last bit of his beer. “I guess we will. What are you up to now? Do you have any plans?”
Chris shook his head. “Not really. All I’d planned was to talk to you and try to figure some shit out. That was number one on my list today.”
“Let’s go out. We’ll get a few beers and maybe something to eat.”
“Jen, it’s 4pm.”
“What? Like we haven’t started this early before. I say a few drinks and then dinner.”
Midway through their second pitcher of beer Jensen’s phone rang. He looked down to see Jared’s name on his display screen and a smile instantly covered his face. He hadn’t even realized he was staring at it, wondering whether to answer when Chris’ voice startled him.
“Hey loverboy, answer it.”
“You sure?”
“Answer it.”
Flicking across the screen, Jensen brought the phone up to his ear. “What’s happening Jay?
“Not much, San, Gen, Chad and I spent the day doing house stuff, and now Gen went off to meet Danneel and Chad went to see Soph and Sandy and I are bored. What are you up to?”
“Out with Chris,” Jensen heard Jared’s intake of breath and couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“Everything okay?” The concern was clear in Jared’s voice and it only made Jensen fall harder for him.
“Yeah, we’re just having a few pitchers. Gonna get dinner soon.” Chris caught Jensen’s attention. “Hold on Jay.”
“What are they doing now?” Chris asked.
Jensen relayed to Chris what Jared had told him and he saw Chris smile.
“Invite the two of them. We’ll hold off and then when they get dinner we can all eat.”
Jensen nodded and focused his attention back to the phone in his hand. “Chris had a great idea, why don’t you and Sandy come down here. We can have a few drinks, have some dinner.” He could hear Jared’s hesitation, could just picture him biting his lip while tugging on his hair nervously. “Jay?”
“Chris’s idea?”
Jensen laughed. “Yes. I swear.”
“Jen, maybe you two need time alone. It’s too soon, I get it. He doesn’t like me and I know you’re trying to be this awesome friend and boyfriend and have all of us get along and be buddies but you know, he doesn’t have to like me. It doesn’t really affect how I feel about you…”
“Jared…Jared…” Jensen repeated until Jared stopped talking. “Stop. Breathe.”
Jared took a few deep breaths and let out a nervous laugh. “Can I think about it? I know Sandy will definitely be up for it, so I’ll let her know…”
“I understand, Jay. Think about it. I won’t be mad either way.” Jensen saw the way Chris wrinkled his nose and rolled his eyes. He gave Chris the finger.
“Okay. Just…give me a bit of time to think about it. Either way, Sandy will be there.”
Before Chris could say something after Jensen ended the call he held up his hand. “First off, no. Whatever you’re thinking no. He’s not sure if he should come and I don’t blame him.”
“I didn’t say a word.” Chris didn’t have to. The smirk on his face and twinkle in his eye said it all.
Three quarters of an hour later, Jensen saw Sandy enter the pub. Her eyes were adjusting to the dark atmosphere and she grinned when she spotted them. Jensen’s stomach fell when he saw that she was alone. He understood why Jared would have opted not to join them, but had really been looking forward to seeing him.
“Hey boys,” she said as she approached. “Got any beer for me, I could use a pint or two.”
Chris gave Jensen a knowing smirk but only turned to Sandy to press a fast kiss to her mouth. “Just you?”
Sandy looked toward the door and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sorry. Jared…”
“Couldn’t bother to join his boyfriend and his boyfriend’s best friend for a pitcher. I get it.”
“Chris!” Jensen and Sandy said together.
“No, you know what? It’s better that you know now. You’re better off without him here tonight Jenny. This way we can talk, catch up and just have a good night. What kind of immature dick can’t even come out when his boyfriend invites him out? Asshole.”
All of the tension that had gone earlier in the day was back but multiplied. If he was in Jared’s shoes he would have thought twice about having drinks and dinner with his boyfriend’s best friend who seemed to have a giant hate on for him but without reason. He wouldn’t want to subject himself to this treatment, so he knew subjecting it to Jared wasn’t fair. Jensen couldn’t help but rest his face in his hands, covering his eyes in frustration. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told Chris that Jared hadn’t spoken ill of him. Jared wasn’t the type of person to talk about someone behind their back, especially when he didn’t know them. The way Chris opted to bash Jared at every opportunity was grating on Jensen’s last nerve and he contemplated standing up and calling it a night so he could go and spend time with his boyfriend.
“You’re the asshole, Christian.” Sandy’s voice was angry, so angry that Jensen looked up to her face and saw the expression she wore. “You’re the immature child that does not know when to keep his mouth shut and let someone speak for one god damned minute.
Chris looked as stunned at Sandy’s outburst as he was. Jensen watched his best friend flush with embarrassment and lower his eyes.
“What I was trying to say was that I was sorry, but Jared was going to be a few minutes. We ran into some of his friends and he stopped to talk, but he was right behind me.”
At the same time, Chris and Jensen looked up and towards the door to see Jared standing not two feet away. Close enough to have heard Chris’ tirade, and judging from his stoic features, he had heard every word.
“Fuck,” Jensen muttered. He jumped up and fumbled for his wallet in his back pocket. He withdrew a few bills without even pausing to look at them before he threw them on the table between them. “Did you even mean a word you said today?” Jensen turned on his heel and grabbed a hold of Jared’s hand, tugging him towards the door. When Jared didn’t move, Jensen jerked back in surprise.
“No Jen,” Jared turned to look at Chris, not once letting his gaze waver. “What is your problem with me?” His eyes were cold and his whole body was rigid. Jared was quite possibly the most easygoing person Jensen had ever met, and he was stunned to see him this angry. Jensen held his hand tighter, as if to remind him he was there for him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Chris tried to deflect and took a long swallow of his beer. “Are you going to sit down Jenny?”
It was Sandy who replied. “No, Christian. I’d like to know the answer to that as well. What IS your problem with Jared?”
Jensen and Jared were still standing, watching Chris with curious gazes, their faces not revealing anything. Sandy sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest, her posture indicating she was very unimpressed and close to joining Jensen and Jared walk out the door.
Chris shifted uncomfortably, avoiding all eye contact with any of them while he finished the beer in his glass. It was clear that no one was going to give him a break, nor were they going to let him avoid the question. They waited patiently until finally Chris deflated and sagged against the back of the chair.
“Fuck. I don’t know, you know.”
It was Jensen who spoke first. “No, I don’t know.”
“I don’t know what the problem is, okay? Can you two just sit down so we can eat?”
Jensen clenched his teeth and forced air into his lungs in a deep, cleansing breath. “Well you better figure it out soon or we won’t be your concern or your business any longer.” His voice was hard, his eyes trained on Chris’. He stepped in closer to Jared, needing to feel the other man’s closeness.
“You can count me in on that,” Sandy agreed sharply.
As if blaming Jared for the scene playing out, Chris looked up at the other man and shot him a look that could kill.
“Don’t look at me, Cowboy. This is all on you.”
The tension between them was thick, emotions running high. It wasn’t until someone approached, asking if they needed their extra two chairs that a decision had to be made.
“Please stay,” Chris pleaded.
Jared and Jensen exchanged a glance before Jared nodded. “Fine.” Jensen placed his jacket on the back of his chair once more and waited for Jared to do the same before tugging his hand gently.
“Just a sec? Excuse us.” He didn’t wait for a response from Chris, he needed a moment with his boyfriend and didn’t care what his best friend thought.
They headed to the small hallway that led to the bathrooms, Jensen pulled Jared in for a tight hug needing to feel him for support. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
“Why are you sorry?” Jared pressed their foreheads together as he cupped Jensen’s face in the palm of his hands.
“I don’t know what is wrong with him, he’s just…this isn’t him. This isn’t who he usually is.”
“Maybe it’s me.” Jared shrugged. “I mean, not everyone gets along with everyone. Maybe he just doesn’t like me. You tell me he’s not like this, Sandy tells me he’s not like this. But I’m sorry, but he seems to be exactly like this and if it’s only when I’m around, then the only common denominator is me and maybe, it’s not him it’s me.”
Jensen shook his head before kissing Jared passionately. “No, I refuse to believe that. There’s something going on with him, but he can’t take it out on you. I’m not going to let him.”
They shared a few more kisses before Jared groaned that they should get back to the table. Jensen held still, not letting Jared go just yet. “Tonight? Can you… stay over? Or I stay at your place?”
Jared’s grin was all the answer Jensen needed. “You never have to ask, you’re welcome over any time.”
A warmth settled in Jensen’s stomach and spread up to his chest. “Ditto.”
By the time they got back to their table, there were a few plates of appetizers sitting in the middle and Chris and Sandy had started nibbling.
“I figured that with all of the beer we’ve been drinking, we’re going to need some food to slow things down,” Chris nodded at the hot wings and garlic bread. As Jared and Jensen sat, a plate of nachos was delivered. Sandy dug in enthusiastically, grinning when she realized she had three sets of eyes on her.
“What? I’m starving.” To the waiter she asked for another pitcher of beer, a strawberry daiquiri and a plate of cheese fries.
“So I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced,” Chris spoke, looking at Jared with a nervous smile. He rubbed his hands on his jeans before extending his right hand across the table. “I’m Christian, Jensen’s roommate.”
For a second, Jared’s eyes flickered to Jensen’s and then Sandy’s before he put on a friendly smile and met Chris’ hand with a firm handshake. “Jared, I’ve heard a lot about you Christian.”
They all laughed at the way Chris’ face flushed and he ducked his head. “Oh, well I’d only believe about a third of it, especially when it’s that one with his stories.”
Jared wiped a strand of cheese from his lips as he’d stuffed a piece of garlic bread into his mouth and laughed. “Unless the stories about naked line dancing on the bar only wearing a cowboy hat and boots is true...” At the way Chris’ eyes widened and Jensen’s jaw dropped, Jared stopped speaking.
“You fucking told him?” Chris squealed as Jensen yelped.
“I didn’t say a word.”
“Wait, what?” Jared burst into laughter. “That happened? No shit.”
“It was once,” Chris whined as he covered his face with his hands.
“Twice,” Jensen corrected. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t,” Jared said. He looked at Sandy who was sitting silently with an innocent expression on her face. The moment their eyes met they both started giggling. Chris and Jensen turned to look at Sandy and Jensen burst into laughter.
Chris looked scandalized. “YOU? You told him?”
“Damn right I did,” Sandy admitted without shame. “My boyfriend line dances naked, that is not something I keep to myself.”
“You say it like it’s a regular thing,” Chris glared at the two other men who were laughing.
“Twice is pretty regular,” Jared reasoned.
“Wait,” Jensen said. “How did YOU find out?” When Sandy didn’t answer, only smiled he shook his head met Chris’ eye.
“Danneel,” they said together. Sandy’s wink gave them all of the answer they needed. Thankful that the mood had lightened, the four friends continued eating, drinking and talking with an ease that none would have expected even earlier that day.
It was midway through their dinner, a pitcher and a half later when Jensen realized the smile on Chris’ face didn’t always meet his eyes. He was engaged in the conversation around him, eager to get to know Jared and try to put everything behind them, but Jensen could tell that something just wasn’t right. He waited for a lull in the conversation to speak.
“Chris, what’s up?”
Chris pretended not to know what he was talking about but Jensen knew the other man too well. Finally Chris sighed and put both elbows on the table. “I don’t know. There is so much going on with me and I’m just not handling it well. Taking it out on you, on Jared when it’s not your fault. I don’t know what to do.”
Jensen hated seeing the other man so confused. “You know you can always talk to me. Anything I can do to help, I’m here.”
“Me too, baby,” Sandy echoed.
“If you want, I could leave. No hard feelings man, but I know we don’t really know each other that well. And…”
Chris gave them all a smile and shook his head. “No. I appreciate all of you trying to help but for right now, I just want to enjoy the night.” Jensen vowed that he wouldn’t let too much time pass before he approached Chris to speak about what was bothering him, to try anything he could to help.
On To Chapter 7
Masterpost
Jensen had never gone this long without speaking to Chris and it was beginning to wear on him. He’d never been happier yet at the same time was depressed due to losing one of his best friends. Not that he’d lost Chris entirely, but it was clear that both men were going out of their way to avoid each other and Jensen had no idea how to stop it. Every time he thought about Chris and the betrayal he’d felt hearing the words that he was selfish and a bad friend Jensen got angry. He felt anger and a rage he’d never experienced before. But with each day, each first he and Jared experienced he wanted to share that joy with Chris like he had with Danni.
A few weeks had gone by since that afternoon, since Jensen’s first date with Jared and the last day he’d spoken to Chris. Danneel had texted him to say that she was meeting a few of her friends for pedicures, Steve was off doing whatever he did when he wasn’t with the rest of them and Jensen wasn’t sure where Chris was. He knew that Jared was spending time with his roommates not having spent much time with them since he’d been with Jensen for the majority of the week. Dozing on the couch, Jensen had the football game on the television when the door opened and he looked up to see Chris standing in the doorway to the living room. The mood shifted from comfortable to awkward. Jensen sat up as he watched Chris enter the living room to sit on their lazy boy chair.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for nearly twenty minutes before Chris finally spoke. “So, are we ever going to talk about this?”
Jensen scratched the back of his neck and finally met Chris’ eye. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Just about as good as you’ve been avoiding me I’d say.”
“Right.” Jensen couldn’t deny the claim but he wouldn’t be the first to break, he’d been slighted here, not Chris. “I don’t think I had much else to say on the topic. You were free to clear anything up at any time.”
“You’re always with him,” Chris accused. “It’s hard to talk to you about anything when you’re never alone.” There was a petulant note in his tone causing for Jensen’s eyes to narrow.
“On that subject,” Jensen’s back straightened and he fought to hold his tone. “When did it become okay for you to have a girlfriend, to be with her twenty four seven and expect us all to adapt but when I find someone it’s this heinous crime?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Chris raised his voice. He was clearly agitated and Jensen knew that the cease fire was a far ways away.
“Then what are you saying? Explain it to me, because I’m having a hard time following you. You’re mad because I won’t drop everything and help you out, but it’s never been a problem for you to cancel on me last minute. You are upset because I haven’t been accessible to you whenever you wanted, but it’s fine if we don’t see you for days because you’ve got your own shit going on and you have to make time for Sandy.”
“So you have a problem with Sandy?”
Jensen gave a sharp barking laugh. “No. I don’t, but what I have a problem with is you being a hypocrite. It’s okay if it’s you but fuck it if it’s us. That’s bullshit. You could have called me any time and said you wanted to talk about shit but no, you don’t. Then you blame me because I’m not moping around waiting for you to forgive me for being a shitty fucking friend.”
At Jensen’s raised voice, Chris dropped back down on the chair he’d stood up from and all of the fight went out of him. He put his head in his hands and sighed. Jensen took this moment to get everything off of his chest.
“And furthermore, I am not a bad friend. I’m not a selfish asshole Chris, and fuck you for making me feel like one. Fuck you for not understanding how hard it was for me to tell you no, knowing how angry you were with me. You know how long I’d been waiting, how much that date meant to me. And you just expected me to drop everything. You assumed I would drop everything for you.”
“You’re right,” Chris murmured softly.
“If you’d just asked…” Jensen felt tears pool in the corner of his eyes. All of the emotion he’d been bottling up for the past few weeks was surfacing and he felt his body trembling. “If you’d have just asked and given me the choice, I might have said yes. I would have seen if Jared wanted to go…but you practically told me to cancel the date. There was no choice, I was just supposed to forget my shit and do what you wanted. I’m always supposed to just do what you all want with no regard to me or what I want, and that’s what fucking sucks. Because when I do stand up for myself, when I do put my foot down I’m a selfish asshole.”
“Jensen,” Chris’ voice was rough, like he himself was trying to hold back tears. Their eyes met and they both let out deep breaths they’d been holding. “I’m sorry, I know.”
“What the fuck though?” Jensen pleaded for an explanation. “Please explain it to me because I’m really fucking lost right now.”
He watched Chris take a few calming breaths and wiped his face with his hands. It was clear that the other man was going through a rough time and Jensen’s heart went out to him. Jensen knew Chris wasn’t a malicious person, not unless he felt threatened, so what had him so threatened of Jared was a mystery to Jensen.
“You know when you’ve gone too far, but you don’t know how to stop yourself? I could hear myself talking but… I don’t know. It was just…I was so upset, so surprised that you’d said no I couldn’t hear anything else.”
“It really fucking stung,” Jensen admitted. “You’re practically my brother and…”
“I know, and it wasn’t me. I mean, it was, but at the same time I couldn’t stop myself and I knew it was wrong, hell everyone told me what an asshole I was being but I just couldn’t stop. You have to believe me, I’m so god damn sorry I can’t even tell you.”
Jensen listened as Chris relayed everything that had happened at Jared’s house both while he was out with Jared at the park and afterwards. When Jensen admitted that Jared hadn’t told him about Chris approaching him and asking him to convince Jensen to cancel, Chris seemed shocked. He had assumed that Jared would have run to Jensen and told him but Jensen assured Chris that they hadn’t spoken at all about it.
“He must hate me,” Chris exhaled as though a giant weight had been lifted off of him. Jensen understood the feeling because he was finally feeling like things would be okay between them.
“No, he doesn’t. Or if he does he hasn’t said anything to me about hating you.” Jensen stood up and went to the kitchen to grab them both a beer. Upon drowning half of it, Jensen spoke again. “Well, that’s a lie. He doesn’t understand what you have against him, but he doesn’t hate you.”
Chris raised an eyebrow, as though he didn’t believe Jensen. “I’m a big boy Jenny, you can tell me if your boyfriend doesn’t like me.”
“He was a little pissed on my behalf, spoke about respect and friendship and making my own decisions, but he doesn’t hate you. He doesn’t even know you.” Jensen held his breath; he was interested in how Chris would respond to that. He wanted nothing more than Jared and Chris to get along, to have both of these men who meant so much to him be able to coexist and actually be friends.
“Well we’ll have to fix that then won’t we?”
Jensen smiled and finished the last bit of his beer. “I guess we will. What are you up to now? Do you have any plans?”
Chris shook his head. “Not really. All I’d planned was to talk to you and try to figure some shit out. That was number one on my list today.”
“Let’s go out. We’ll get a few beers and maybe something to eat.”
“Jen, it’s 4pm.”
“What? Like we haven’t started this early before. I say a few drinks and then dinner.”
Midway through their second pitcher of beer Jensen’s phone rang. He looked down to see Jared’s name on his display screen and a smile instantly covered his face. He hadn’t even realized he was staring at it, wondering whether to answer when Chris’ voice startled him.
“Hey loverboy, answer it.”
“You sure?”
“Answer it.”
Flicking across the screen, Jensen brought the phone up to his ear. “What’s happening Jay?
“Not much, San, Gen, Chad and I spent the day doing house stuff, and now Gen went off to meet Danneel and Chad went to see Soph and Sandy and I are bored. What are you up to?”
“Out with Chris,” Jensen heard Jared’s intake of breath and couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“Everything okay?” The concern was clear in Jared’s voice and it only made Jensen fall harder for him.
“Yeah, we’re just having a few pitchers. Gonna get dinner soon.” Chris caught Jensen’s attention. “Hold on Jay.”
“What are they doing now?” Chris asked.
Jensen relayed to Chris what Jared had told him and he saw Chris smile.
“Invite the two of them. We’ll hold off and then when they get dinner we can all eat.”
Jensen nodded and focused his attention back to the phone in his hand. “Chris had a great idea, why don’t you and Sandy come down here. We can have a few drinks, have some dinner.” He could hear Jared’s hesitation, could just picture him biting his lip while tugging on his hair nervously. “Jay?”
“Chris’s idea?”
Jensen laughed. “Yes. I swear.”
“Jen, maybe you two need time alone. It’s too soon, I get it. He doesn’t like me and I know you’re trying to be this awesome friend and boyfriend and have all of us get along and be buddies but you know, he doesn’t have to like me. It doesn’t really affect how I feel about you…”
“Jared…Jared…” Jensen repeated until Jared stopped talking. “Stop. Breathe.”
Jared took a few deep breaths and let out a nervous laugh. “Can I think about it? I know Sandy will definitely be up for it, so I’ll let her know…”
“I understand, Jay. Think about it. I won’t be mad either way.” Jensen saw the way Chris wrinkled his nose and rolled his eyes. He gave Chris the finger.
“Okay. Just…give me a bit of time to think about it. Either way, Sandy will be there.”
Before Chris could say something after Jensen ended the call he held up his hand. “First off, no. Whatever you’re thinking no. He’s not sure if he should come and I don’t blame him.”
“I didn’t say a word.” Chris didn’t have to. The smirk on his face and twinkle in his eye said it all.
Three quarters of an hour later, Jensen saw Sandy enter the pub. Her eyes were adjusting to the dark atmosphere and she grinned when she spotted them. Jensen’s stomach fell when he saw that she was alone. He understood why Jared would have opted not to join them, but had really been looking forward to seeing him.
“Hey boys,” she said as she approached. “Got any beer for me, I could use a pint or two.”
Chris gave Jensen a knowing smirk but only turned to Sandy to press a fast kiss to her mouth. “Just you?”
Sandy looked toward the door and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sorry. Jared…”
“Couldn’t bother to join his boyfriend and his boyfriend’s best friend for a pitcher. I get it.”
“Chris!” Jensen and Sandy said together.
“No, you know what? It’s better that you know now. You’re better off without him here tonight Jenny. This way we can talk, catch up and just have a good night. What kind of immature dick can’t even come out when his boyfriend invites him out? Asshole.”
All of the tension that had gone earlier in the day was back but multiplied. If he was in Jared’s shoes he would have thought twice about having drinks and dinner with his boyfriend’s best friend who seemed to have a giant hate on for him but without reason. He wouldn’t want to subject himself to this treatment, so he knew subjecting it to Jared wasn’t fair. Jensen couldn’t help but rest his face in his hands, covering his eyes in frustration. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told Chris that Jared hadn’t spoken ill of him. Jared wasn’t the type of person to talk about someone behind their back, especially when he didn’t know them. The way Chris opted to bash Jared at every opportunity was grating on Jensen’s last nerve and he contemplated standing up and calling it a night so he could go and spend time with his boyfriend.
“You’re the asshole, Christian.” Sandy’s voice was angry, so angry that Jensen looked up to her face and saw the expression she wore. “You’re the immature child that does not know when to keep his mouth shut and let someone speak for one god damned minute.
Chris looked as stunned at Sandy’s outburst as he was. Jensen watched his best friend flush with embarrassment and lower his eyes.
“What I was trying to say was that I was sorry, but Jared was going to be a few minutes. We ran into some of his friends and he stopped to talk, but he was right behind me.”
At the same time, Chris and Jensen looked up and towards the door to see Jared standing not two feet away. Close enough to have heard Chris’ tirade, and judging from his stoic features, he had heard every word.
“Fuck,” Jensen muttered. He jumped up and fumbled for his wallet in his back pocket. He withdrew a few bills without even pausing to look at them before he threw them on the table between them. “Did you even mean a word you said today?” Jensen turned on his heel and grabbed a hold of Jared’s hand, tugging him towards the door. When Jared didn’t move, Jensen jerked back in surprise.
“No Jen,” Jared turned to look at Chris, not once letting his gaze waver. “What is your problem with me?” His eyes were cold and his whole body was rigid. Jared was quite possibly the most easygoing person Jensen had ever met, and he was stunned to see him this angry. Jensen held his hand tighter, as if to remind him he was there for him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Chris tried to deflect and took a long swallow of his beer. “Are you going to sit down Jenny?”
It was Sandy who replied. “No, Christian. I’d like to know the answer to that as well. What IS your problem with Jared?”
Jensen and Jared were still standing, watching Chris with curious gazes, their faces not revealing anything. Sandy sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest, her posture indicating she was very unimpressed and close to joining Jensen and Jared walk out the door.
Chris shifted uncomfortably, avoiding all eye contact with any of them while he finished the beer in his glass. It was clear that no one was going to give him a break, nor were they going to let him avoid the question. They waited patiently until finally Chris deflated and sagged against the back of the chair.
“Fuck. I don’t know, you know.”
It was Jensen who spoke first. “No, I don’t know.”
“I don’t know what the problem is, okay? Can you two just sit down so we can eat?”
Jensen clenched his teeth and forced air into his lungs in a deep, cleansing breath. “Well you better figure it out soon or we won’t be your concern or your business any longer.” His voice was hard, his eyes trained on Chris’. He stepped in closer to Jared, needing to feel the other man’s closeness.
“You can count me in on that,” Sandy agreed sharply.
As if blaming Jared for the scene playing out, Chris looked up at the other man and shot him a look that could kill.
“Don’t look at me, Cowboy. This is all on you.”
The tension between them was thick, emotions running high. It wasn’t until someone approached, asking if they needed their extra two chairs that a decision had to be made.
“Please stay,” Chris pleaded.
Jared and Jensen exchanged a glance before Jared nodded. “Fine.” Jensen placed his jacket on the back of his chair once more and waited for Jared to do the same before tugging his hand gently.
“Just a sec? Excuse us.” He didn’t wait for a response from Chris, he needed a moment with his boyfriend and didn’t care what his best friend thought.
They headed to the small hallway that led to the bathrooms, Jensen pulled Jared in for a tight hug needing to feel him for support. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
“Why are you sorry?” Jared pressed their foreheads together as he cupped Jensen’s face in the palm of his hands.
“I don’t know what is wrong with him, he’s just…this isn’t him. This isn’t who he usually is.”
“Maybe it’s me.” Jared shrugged. “I mean, not everyone gets along with everyone. Maybe he just doesn’t like me. You tell me he’s not like this, Sandy tells me he’s not like this. But I’m sorry, but he seems to be exactly like this and if it’s only when I’m around, then the only common denominator is me and maybe, it’s not him it’s me.”
Jensen shook his head before kissing Jared passionately. “No, I refuse to believe that. There’s something going on with him, but he can’t take it out on you. I’m not going to let him.”
They shared a few more kisses before Jared groaned that they should get back to the table. Jensen held still, not letting Jared go just yet. “Tonight? Can you… stay over? Or I stay at your place?”
Jared’s grin was all the answer Jensen needed. “You never have to ask, you’re welcome over any time.”
A warmth settled in Jensen’s stomach and spread up to his chest. “Ditto.”
By the time they got back to their table, there were a few plates of appetizers sitting in the middle and Chris and Sandy had started nibbling.
“I figured that with all of the beer we’ve been drinking, we’re going to need some food to slow things down,” Chris nodded at the hot wings and garlic bread. As Jared and Jensen sat, a plate of nachos was delivered. Sandy dug in enthusiastically, grinning when she realized she had three sets of eyes on her.
“What? I’m starving.” To the waiter she asked for another pitcher of beer, a strawberry daiquiri and a plate of cheese fries.
“So I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced,” Chris spoke, looking at Jared with a nervous smile. He rubbed his hands on his jeans before extending his right hand across the table. “I’m Christian, Jensen’s roommate.”
For a second, Jared’s eyes flickered to Jensen’s and then Sandy’s before he put on a friendly smile and met Chris’ hand with a firm handshake. “Jared, I’ve heard a lot about you Christian.”
They all laughed at the way Chris’ face flushed and he ducked his head. “Oh, well I’d only believe about a third of it, especially when it’s that one with his stories.”
Jared wiped a strand of cheese from his lips as he’d stuffed a piece of garlic bread into his mouth and laughed. “Unless the stories about naked line dancing on the bar only wearing a cowboy hat and boots is true...” At the way Chris’ eyes widened and Jensen’s jaw dropped, Jared stopped speaking.
“You fucking told him?” Chris squealed as Jensen yelped.
“I didn’t say a word.”
“Wait, what?” Jared burst into laughter. “That happened? No shit.”
“It was once,” Chris whined as he covered his face with his hands.
“Twice,” Jensen corrected. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t,” Jared said. He looked at Sandy who was sitting silently with an innocent expression on her face. The moment their eyes met they both started giggling. Chris and Jensen turned to look at Sandy and Jensen burst into laughter.
Chris looked scandalized. “YOU? You told him?”
“Damn right I did,” Sandy admitted without shame. “My boyfriend line dances naked, that is not something I keep to myself.”
“You say it like it’s a regular thing,” Chris glared at the two other men who were laughing.
“Twice is pretty regular,” Jared reasoned.
“Wait,” Jensen said. “How did YOU find out?” When Sandy didn’t answer, only smiled he shook his head met Chris’ eye.
“Danneel,” they said together. Sandy’s wink gave them all of the answer they needed. Thankful that the mood had lightened, the four friends continued eating, drinking and talking with an ease that none would have expected even earlier that day.
It was midway through their dinner, a pitcher and a half later when Jensen realized the smile on Chris’ face didn’t always meet his eyes. He was engaged in the conversation around him, eager to get to know Jared and try to put everything behind them, but Jensen could tell that something just wasn’t right. He waited for a lull in the conversation to speak.
“Chris, what’s up?”
Chris pretended not to know what he was talking about but Jensen knew the other man too well. Finally Chris sighed and put both elbows on the table. “I don’t know. There is so much going on with me and I’m just not handling it well. Taking it out on you, on Jared when it’s not your fault. I don’t know what to do.”
Jensen hated seeing the other man so confused. “You know you can always talk to me. Anything I can do to help, I’m here.”
“Me too, baby,” Sandy echoed.
“If you want, I could leave. No hard feelings man, but I know we don’t really know each other that well. And…”
Chris gave them all a smile and shook his head. “No. I appreciate all of you trying to help but for right now, I just want to enjoy the night.” Jensen vowed that he wouldn’t let too much time pass before he approached Chris to speak about what was bothering him, to try anything he could to help.
On To Chapter 7
Masterpost